Glass for drinks

ABSTRACT

A glass for drinks, comprising a pedestal and a cup connected to the pedestal in a connection zone defining substantially the bottom of the cup. The glass also comprises a plurality of ridges made on the internal surface of the cup to be disposed in contact with the drink, which start from the bottom and develop in a spiral upwards and are directed in an opposite direction with respect to the direction of normal shaking or rotation of the glass.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a glass for drinks, in particular but notonly for fizzy drinks, comprising at least a pedestal and a cup which isconnected to the pedestal in a connection zone substantially definingthe bottom of the cup.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drinks in general, and fizzy drinks in particular, such as for examplespumante, champagne or soft drinks, are instable solutions consisting ofa liquid part and a gassy part, normally deriving from the naturalfermentation of yeasts, or the addition of carbon dioxide.

When the drink is in a quiet state, the gassy part is still, that is, ina non-shaken state.

When the drink is poured, for example into a glass, the gassy part tendsto evolve from the solution because it is subjected to mechanicalshaking.

During this operation, the gassy part generates in the glass a pluralityof bubbles that, being lighter than the liquid part, tend to risetowards the upper part of the glass and come out.

When the mechanical stimulus is finished, the shaking effect only lastsa few seconds and the gassy part is no longer stimulated to generate thebubbles.

The user can therefore no longer visually appreciate the “perlage”, thatis, the totality of bubbles that the drink produces, and which is one ofthe factors that are normally verified by tasters in order to judge thequality of the drink.

Moreover, the pleasant tickling sensation which the bubbles give to theuser's palate is decreased if the gassy part is still.

To stimulate the shaking of the gassy part, the user shakes the glass ormakes it rotate, holding it by the stem.

In glasses of a known type, however, it is necessary to shake or rotatethe glass rather energetically and for a long time, to obtain thedesired perlage.

One purpose of the present invention is to achieve a glass for any typeof drink, for example for still or fizzy wines, which allows tooxygenate the drink and to enhance the aromas and bouquet thereof in arapid and easy manner.

Another purpose of the present invention is to achieve a glass fordrinks, in particular for fizzy drinks, which allows to shake andmaintain shaken the gassy part of the drink in a rapid and easy mannerso as to obtain the desired perlage.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention toovercome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain theseand other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independentclaim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of theinvention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, a glass for drinks according tothe present invention comprises a pedestal and a cup, connected to thepedestal in a connection zone substantially defining the bottom of thecup.

According to a characteristic of the present invention, the glass alsocomprises a plurality of ridges made on the internal surface of the cupin order to be disposed in contact with the drink poured into the glass.

The ridges start from the bottom and develop upwards in a spiral and aredirected in an opposite direction with respect to the direction ofnormal shaking or rotation of the glass by the hand of a user.

In this way, for example, in order to stimulate the shaking of the gassypart of the drink, the user, holding the glass by means of the pedestal,shakes it or makes it rotate, in the direction of normal shaking orrotation.

This direction of shaking or rotation is normally anti-clockwise forright-handed users, and clockwise for left-handed users, so that theridges can have a characterization according to whether they are forright-handed or left-handed users.

During shaking, the drink impacts on the ridges and the gassy part isshaken, generating bubbles.

The invention therefore allows to enhance the perlage of the drink in arapid and easy manner.

In the case of still drinks, on the contrary, such as for example wines,the ridges of the glass according to the present invention interrupt theflow of the drink in the cup, facilitating oxygenation and a moreintense emission of the aromas and bouquet.

According to an advantageous solution, the ridges have a height lessthan the height that normally defines the level of the drink in the cup,to allow the user to observe the drink clearly and without impedimentabove the ridges.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of a preferential form ofembodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to theattached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a lateral view of a glass according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plane view of the glass in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a glass 10 according to the presentinvention is usable to contain drinks, in particular fizzy drinks. Theglass 10 is made for example of glass or transparent plastic, andcomprises a supporting base 12, a stem 14, connected to the base 12, anda cup 16 connected to the stem 14 in a connection zone 18, whichsubstantially defines the bottom of the cup 16.

The cup 16 comprises a first lower part 20 which develops from theconnection zone 18 and has a substantially conical or truncated coneshape, and a second upper part 22, connected to the first part 20 andhaving a substantially cylindrical or truncated cone shape.

The glass 10 also comprises a plurality of ridges 24, which are madeintegral, i.e. in a piece directly on the internal surface 26 of the cup16, so as to be disposed in contact with the drink when the drink ispoured into the glass.

The ridges 24 start from the bottom of the cup 16 and develop in aspiral, curving from the bottom upwards, and are directed in an oppositedirection with respect to the direction of normal shaking or rotation ofthe glass 10 when the glass 10 is rotated by the hand of a user.

In particular, the ridges 24 are made in the first part of the cup 16.

According to a variant not shown here, the ridges 24 also extend partlyinto a lower zone of the second part 22.

The ridges 24, according to an embodiment of the invention, have aheight less than the height that normally defines the level of a singlepouring of the drink in the cup 16, to allow the user to observe thedrink, and hence its perlage, above the ridges 24 and therefore withoutvisual interference caused by the ridges 24.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made tothe glass 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the fieldand scope of the present invention.

1. A glass for drinks, comprising a pedestal and a cup connected to saidpedestal in a connection zone defining the bottom of said cup, the glassfurther comprising a plurality of ridges made on the internal surface ofsaid cup so as to be disposed in contact with said drink poured into theglass, said ridges starting from said bottom and developing in a spiralupwards and being directed in an opposite direction with respect to thedirection of normal shaking or rotation of said glass.
 2. A glass as inclaim 1, wherein said ridges have a height less than the height thatnormally defines the level of a single pouring of the drink in said cup,to allow the user to observe said drink above said ridges.
 3. A glass asin claim 1, wherein said ridges are made integral with said cup.
 4. Aglass as in claim 1, wherein said cup comprises at least a first lowerpart that develops from said connection zone, and has a substantiallyconical or truncated cone shape, and wherein said ridges are made insaid first part.
 5. A glass as in claim 4, wherein said cup alsocomprises a second upper part, connected to said first part and having asubstantially cylindrical or truncated cone shape, and wherein saidridges extend partly into a lower zone of said second part.